Morganza panel on hold until next month, officials say

Friday

Dec 21, 2007 at 11:35 AM

NIKKI BUSKEY Staff Writer

HOUMA -- A state scientific review of Morganza requested months ago remains a top priority but will likely be put on hold until the new administration and Legislature take office in January, officials say.

"I know that they are continuing to pursue the scientific panel," said state Sen. Reggie Dupre, D-Bourg. "We’re in a period of transition."

Dupre, recently named chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, said he’s received reassurances from state coastal officials that the scientific review requested by Terrebonne levee officials is still a go.

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Issues passed a resolution Sept. 13 in support of having a state-appointed scientific panel review the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane- protection project.

Terrebonne levee officials asked for the review in response to criticism from environmentalists and scientists who question the wisdom of the current alignment, saying it will harm swaths of wetlands and fail to provide the hurricane protection promised.

Morganza is Terrebonne’s 72-mile system of floodgates, levees and a lock on the Houma Navigation Canal that aims to protect Terrebonne and most of Lafourche from up to a Category 3 hurricane.

Last month, Morganza won federal authorization from Congress and President Bush after 15 years of studies, design and some construction paid for with state money and local taxes.

Jerome Zeringue, executive director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, said he was aware the scientific review panel probably wouldn’t happen until Gov.-Elect Bobby Jindal takes office in January and his new government is in place. But he but added that the levee district will continue to work to make sure that the review happens.

"We have to address some of these specific concerns before we can move forward," Dupre said.

Dupre added that three state government figures would likely have to be in place before any real movement can be made on coastal restoration and hurricane protection issues. They are the secretaries of the state Natural Resources and Transportation departments and the head of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities.

Of those, only Scott Angelle has been asked to serve another term as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.

"Everyone’s kind of holding their tongue until then," said Berwick Duval, a Houma attorney and member of the Governor’s Commission on Coastal Restoration.

Some of these positions could be named as early as today, Dupre added, but will have to be in place by Jindal’s inauguration Jan. 14.

Sidney Coffee, executive assistant to the governor on coastal activities and chairwoman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the status of the Morganza scientific review panel.